Hunt the Devil - Cannot beat the paladins

[zeeter]

I knew this was going to be a tough fight, and I have Karlach, Lae'zel, and Gale with me. I'm an elf ranger.
What's the strategy for this fight? I've tried four times and have gotten absolutely nowhere with it. They take me down within three rounds.
I'm level three, btw.

[some guy]

oh and if you have a potion of haste that ♥♥♥♥ is pretty op

[Fishmonger]

Sounds like your biggest drawback is that you don't have enough healing in your party. Sure you can chug potions, but that eats up resources.

If you're okay using resources, have Karlach drink a speed potion, rage, buff her with longstrider and enlarge person (if you or Gale have the spells) and stack your healing pots on her. Barbarians are very strong early, even at level 3. She should be able to solo carry your fight by spamming reckless attack.

Also, make sure you focus one enemy down at a time. Generally you want to down the easiest one to hit first.

[Cenwalh]

Also, don't forget that the mage character has a patrol route that involves going outside near a cliff... you can get rid of that one when they're isolated easily and virtually before the "big" fight begins.

[some guy]

also if you cant beat them just come back lvl 4

[VladmirFox]

Originally posted by Talithmara:

I did this fight at level 4 and still had two characters go down - one of which in a single round to spammed extra attack divine smites.

If I had to find a way to do it below 4 (the extra HP and first feats could potentially be gamechangers in a fight like this) I'd say to cheese things as hard as possible with spells like Hold Person. Lock the Paladin down and surround him with your melees for guaranteed critical hits. You might need to savescum until Hold Person works, though.

Don't forget to open the fight with environmental hazards like Grease or maybe an Ice Knife aimed at the Leader.

[darth.crevette]

Instead of entering the building, use the ladder outside to get to the balcony. You might want to break that ladder, too, to not get hit from behind by the caster.

Enter through the door leading to the first floor right above the (fake) paladin and sneak around to get to a good palce before starting the battle.

Move Karlack (RAGE) at the top of the ladder, every time he tries to climb, shove him back.
Lae'zel, Gale and your Tav bombard everyone from above; you might want to focus on the archer lady first and get her out of the picture as fast as possible. I put a Cloud of Daggers spell at the base of the ladder, not touching it, but making sure the paladin would need to get through it to reach me. If the archer and/or the caster can be hit as well, even better!

[EricHVela]

Did this at level 3 with custom player Ranger, Karlach, Wyll, and Gale. The woman from the other room will run back into that other room of anyone gets too close, often removing her from the round. Keep your party scattered. I had the Ranger up on the balcony of the room taking pot shots with arrows and cantrips and moving back out of LoS. Karlach took friendly fire (heh) from an AoE, but she took it in stride, and the battle was won in the end (and the building destroyed).

Of course, favorable dice can play a big part of it. Many successful saves and successful hits on my side. Many failed saves and misses on their side. I consider this a benefit (though risky) of keeping karmic dice turned off. I don't want to think about what would have happened if the game tried to "balance" the rolls. (Karmic prevents streaks of successes and failures for both allies and enemies.)

It's not supposed to be an easy fight with lv 3 characters. (If you have tutorials on and this is the first strong encounter, the game will tell you about "fleeing" when initiative is rolled.)

[Maligner]

I hadn't mentioned this in any of the other discussions where people struggle with encounters, but everyone should have a missile weapon (bow, crossbow, etc) and that is a viable option. It takes time, but you can check the to-hit percentage between a missile attack, a spell, or running up and melee before using the action up. Also, there are tons of special use arrows that you have to have a bow to use, the kind that explode for extra damage or do acid damage, etc. You can increase your damage and odds with these weapons when used properly.

Also Potion of Giant Strength. If you suspect a hard fight, some of these things can be used just before a fight. Or use them during a fight but some of them take an action.

You also have other options. Like try to web the paladin and everyone bombard with missiles or throwables. This is usually only good for a turn, maybe 2 but that might be all the time you need to turn the fight from a struggle to a cake walk.

[Rodis]

Use the boxes that are around the place on the doors to lock the wizard on the other room, keep someone in melee with the ranger and the the other one (whoever has the biggest AC) next to the Paladin. Start the conversation with the melee character.

[Chuckawookie]

Originally posted by Maligner:

Seems people are either not able to win or are acing the encounter. I took a couple big hits but it wasn't that hard. I have to wonder if it isn't a matter of understanding and using the game mechanics to the fullest. Without watching someone struggle through a tough encounter, I have no way of knowing what feedback is required.

I really don't think it's about knowledge though. I've been making this point in other threads since I've been on the losing end but it's all about levels. For once this fight everyone was struggling with was extremely easy for me but it's because I was lvl 4. nothing else. I didn't heat up my weapon, I didn't use grease, I didn't destroy the candelabra or shoot from the window, I just had Karlach stealth into the side room and kill the trader in two turns. When the other two came out to help the mage ran outside who was then killed by the Astarion and Shadowheart who were there. The paladin was OP since he could attack 3 times and killed Karlach but we all beat him up with basic attacks after. There is no tactics in this game, only stats.

[Midnight]

Did it solo lvl 3. Scorch ray the chick merchant she's the worst with hold person. Then retreat upstairs. Break ladder if needed to prevent paladin from getting up and spam range. Knock off roof when required with thunderwave.

[urartu]

Actually Karlach's rage was more dangerous after killing paladins. I mean...since you could burn the place down why wait after we kill the people. Damn girl! Burning hot at the wrong time.

[Maligner]

Originally posted by Chuckawookie:

Originally posted by Maligner:

Seems people are either not able to win or are acing the encounter. I took a couple big hits but it wasn't that hard. I have to wonder if it isn't a matter of understanding and using the game mechanics to the fullest. Without watching someone struggle through a tough encounter, I have no way of knowing what feedback is required.

I really don't think it's about knowledge though. I've been making this point in other threads since I've been on the losing end but it's all about levels. For once this fight everyone was struggling with was extremely easy for me but it's because I was lvl 4. nothing else. I didn't heat up my weapon, I didn't use grease, I didn't destroy the candelabra or shoot from the window, I just had Karlach stealth into the side room and kill the trader in two turns. When the other two came out to help the mage ran outside who was then killed by the Astarion and Shadowheart who were there. The paladin was OP since he could attack 3 times and killed Karlach but we all beat him up with basic attacks after. There is no tactics in this game, only stats.

I'd disagree with your premise that it's not about tactics. You clearly employed a strategy to take them on piecemeal. I've a feeling folks that're struggling just walk in and trade blows and that's got it's risks, especially at lower levels.

[Ancient Toaster]

That fight is kinda ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Anders will pretty much one round anyone in melee with Divine Smites. The girl outside will usually drink a haste potion and be spamming all sorts of debuff spells.

I split my team - Bard and Wyll up top, Shadowheart and Karlach on floor. Karlach should engage with Anders (preferably Raging and using the Bear Wildheart so she takes half damage.) she will still likely die or get close to dying, but you focus down the mage and the Ranger and then go all in on Anders after he uses up his Divine smites

[Ancient Toaster]

Originally posted by Aaravos:

Did it solo lvl 3. Scorch ray the chick merchant she's the worst with hold person. Then retreat upstairs. Break ladder if needed to prevent paladin from getting up and spam range. Knock off roof when required with thunderwave.

The Paladin can jump up there. He’s done it to me before multiple times